Noisy Water Winery owner Jasper Riddle is part of a group of around 60 New Mexico winery owners that started out with small ventures in the hopes of creating a sustainable business.

Riddle is among the many that are succeeding and the growth is due, in large part, to the fact New Mexico wineries are producing award-winning wines that are putting the state on the radar of wine connoisseurs. The timing couldn't be better, Jasper said their are enough NM wineries and craft breweries statewide to draw fans in for "liquid tours."

"Yes, we have amazing chile, amazing landscape, but any where you are in New Mexico, from Silver City, to Deming to Clovis, there is going to be a craft alcohol producer that will offer an experience," Riddle said. "I know when I travel, I don't want a domestic, I want something that is local. I may I like it or I don't , but I want to experience what people in that area like."

Riddle said the backdrop of Ruidoso is a perfect fit for the concept. Plus, with the expansion of his winery to its new production facility in Alto, visitors get an inside peek at the process of winemaking in a venue that is meant to help them make a memory.

"If you leave Ruidoso, to take a bottle of my wine and say, 'this is where I'm from,' to me that is cool," he said. "When I travel I've always love those experiences. That is the one thing I would love to create for Ruidoso."

Noisy Water Winery owner Jasper Riddle discusses plans for the new production facility in Alto.(Photo11: Michelle Huey/Ruidoso News)

"I think the main goal, not just for our winery, but New Mexico as a whole, is to be recognized on the national, international level as producing really good wine," Noisy Water National Distribution Director Matt Breslow said.

Liquid tours are just one aspect of a whole scope of ideas the young entrepreneur has for his venture. Riddle sees a bigger business picture, one that builds an industry of growth and prosperity for the whole community.

Riddle returned to Ruidoso, taking the reins of the winery from his parents, after attending college and exploring other ventures. He's not the only one in his age group that embraces the idea of coming home to put down roots. Riddle is part of a generation who, after a look at the world, decided home isn't so bad after all. Many like him are returning with skill sets that are perfect for helping the community create a new way to thrive.

"I've been fortunate to hire guys and girls that I went to school with that are awesome people that have the same passion for our town that I have," Riddle said.

In addition to that injection of young blood, Riddle said Lincoln County's established business owners are willing to help them as they navigate through the sometimes muddy waters of small business in a tourist town.

"It's nice to have the advice from the older folks too," he said, noting the many local business owners that have been quick with good advice.

He melds the best of what the two generations offer to help him achieve his goals.

Riddle also credits his early success to the Mescalero Apache Tribe that chose to put Noisy Water wine on the menu at Inn of the Mountain Gods restaurants.

"They were the first ones to ask, 'How do we help you?'" he said.

All of this lays the ground work for Riddle's vision of building the winery into something that helps create a sustainable industry in the county. His plan includes building a business that offers locals a career, not just a job and more.

Winemaking 101

Grapes ripe for the picking.(Photo11: Courtesy/Jasper Riddle)

Most wine drinkers don't think about how the grapes become the wine they're drinking.

But Riddle has made the sacrifice to dedicate his life to the science just so we can all enjoy a great glass or even a bottle of wine. Not many would call taste testing wine a sacrifice, but there is a science to it, along with a lot of grunt work.

The process of winemaking from vineyard to bottle begins with a team of around 20 workers harvesting the grapes. Knowing just when to harvest is in itself is a true science, but that it is one that is dependent on a variety of outside variables that affect the ultimate outcome.

""It's crazy because Mother Nature factors in too," Riddle said.

After they're picked, the grapes are then delivered to the production facility in Alto. Once there, they are crushed and de-stemmed. The sugar content of the grapes are checked again. The ph levels are measured. Then, the fermentation process begins.

From there Riddles' biggest job is the keep the grapes happy for the next seven days. Then the mixture is put into a bladder press that spins and presses out all the young wine leaving behind the left overs. Another fermentation process that helps with mouth feel is introduced and then an aging process of one-to-two years begins.

"That's why it's so expensive to get in the wine industry because you sit on your goods," Riddle said. "You learn a lot of patience."

F.Y.I., red wine is processed with the skins and seeds. White is made with just the juice so white wine can come from red grapes, but not vice versa.

"It's fun," Riddle said. "The past 60 days have been a lot of long hours but it's been cool."

"I'd love for people to see how much this winery has done," Breslow said. "I moved here from New York because I have seen what Jasper is doing with wine."

"I'd put some of our dry reds against any Napa or Sonoma wine any day."

Noisy Water Winery is located at 2342 Sudderth Drive. Call 575-257-9335 for more information.

Free compost is available for pickup at Noisy Water's production facility in Alto.(Photo11: Michelle Huey/Ruidoso News)